| The
culture of India has been shaped by the long history
of India, its unique geography and the absorption
of customs, traditions and ideas from some of its
neighbors as well as by preserving its ancient heritages,
from the Indus Valley Civilization onward. India's
great diversity of cultural practices, languages,
customs, and traditions are examples of this unique
co-mingling over the past five millennea. India
is also the birth place of several religious systems
such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism,
some of which have had a large influence in other
parts of the world. From the thirteenth century
onwards, following the Islamic conquests and the
subsequent European colonialization, the culture
of India was influenced by Turkish, Persian, Arabic
and English cultures. The various religions and
traditions of India that were created by these amalgamations
have influenced South East Asia and some other parts
of the world. |
